Investment Articles

Having given due consideration to the strategies in Part 1, let’s now consider other tax effective investments to help children with the costs of higher education.

Trust Arrangements

In cases where the donor is confident that the child will have a mature disposition at age 18, a bare trust based investment will offer maximum tax efficiency.

Where more control is required over the investment so that there is, in effect, a “wait and see” approach before the child benefits at age 18, a discretionary trust may be more appropriate.

We will now look at these in more detail. Clearly, in either case, the underlying investment should be made to achieve maximum tax efficiency within the constraints of the required investment parameters.

It is not generally legally possible (although certain life policy exceptions do exist) to make outright gifts of assets to minor children and obtain a valid legal discharge. Indeed, it is not often advisable from a practical standpoint. For this reason trusts can be used effectively.

Two options exist:

Bare Trust

Here the donor could consider an investment into a collective investment (unit trust or OEIC) held subject to a bare trust for the absolute benefit of the child.

The advantages of this structure would be:

Income

Where the grandparent is the donor, income will be taxed as the grandchild’s. It is likely that the grandchild will be a non-taxpayer. This means that where dividend income arises, recovery of the tax credit on those dividends will not be possible and so, if this is of importance, an investment in corporate bond funds could be considered.

These generate interest distributions which are paid under deduction of income tax at 20% and this can be recovered by or on behalf of a non-taxpayer.

Alternatively, an investment in an offshore corporate bond fund could be considered. Here interest is paid
gross and so this will avoid the need for a reclaim of tax.

In cases where the parent is the donor of a bare trust for the benefit of his/her minor child who is unmarried and not in a civil partnership, then if the gross income on investments within the trust exceeds 100 gross in a tax year, it would be taxed on the parent. Therefore, if the parent is a higher rate taxpayer, it may be appropriate to invest in low yielding investments and concentrate an achieving capital growth.

Capital growth

Capital gains will be taxed on the child so this could be a useful way, through careful investment management, of using the child’s annual CGT exemption of 10,100 (tax year 2010/11).

Moreover, the annual exemption is not restricted according to the number of trusts created by the same settlor. Any gains that exceed the annual exemption in a tax year will probably only be taxed at 18%.

Where investment funds are held in a bare trust and being invested to assist with the future payment of university costs, the collective investment could be gradually encashed over three or four years. The child could draw down on the investment from age 18 and, provided capital gains fall within the annual CGT exemption, in effect enjoy a tax-free stream of capital payments.

Another investment that could be held in a bare trust is a single premium bond. H M Revenue and Customs now takes the view that where chargeable event gains arise on single premium bonds heldsubject to a bare trust, they should be taxed on the beneficiary.

The exception to that is in cases where the beneficiary is the settlor’s minor unmarried child not in a civil partnership where the “100 rule” applies (ie. if gross income exceeds 100 in a tax year, it is taxed in full on the parental settlor). However, this rule doesn’t apply with a grandparent settlor or a parental settlor once the child attains age 18.

Therefore, if full policy/segment encashments are made from a bond, chargeable event gains may well count as the child’s income and so, provided the child is not a higher rate taxpayer, in effect provide a series of tax-free payments.

To facilitate some tax-free encashments to fund the costs of pre- university education the 5% (tax-deferred) annual allowances could be used in the knowledge that on eventual encashment after the child had attained age 18, a tax charge is unlikely to arise. Of course, tax (while important) should not be the only determinant of underlying investment strategy.

Investors should always aim to strike an appropriate balance between investment suitability and tax efficiency – ideally achieving both.

Gifts to bare trusts are PETs and so no immediate IHT would arise. Indeed, they will be totally free of IHT if the donor survives for 7 years.

Discretionary / Flexible Trust

A discretionary trust would give control to the trustees to determine who should benefit from the gift and when. This means that if the child does not have a financial need at age 18 or is not responsible enough to receive cash at that time, the release of benefits could be held back until a later date.

Aside from the 1,000 standard rate band, trustees of discretionary trusts are charged to income tax as if they are additional rate taxpayers. Since 6 April 2010, the tax rates on income above this band arising to discretionary trustees are 50% (42.5% on dividends) regardless of the trust’s level of income.

This means that in cases where a grandparent is the settlor, it may be appropriate for the trustees to distribute income to a grandchild beneficiary who is a lower or non-taxpayer in order to recover the additional rate tax paid by the trustees.

Indeed, in these circumstances an interest in possession trust that gives the grandchild a vested right to income but with the trustees having the power to appoint capital may be attractive as this will avoid the beneficiaries having to recover income tax that the trustees have already paid.

In cases where the settlor is the parent of a minor unmarried child beneficiary, it should be noted that
the “100 rule” can apply. This means that if more than 100 of gross income in a tax year is paid out of the trust to the minor child beneficiary of the settlor, it will be taxed on that parental settlor.

Another planning point to consider, where appropriate, might be to trigger the “settlor-interested trust
rules” by including the settlor’s spouse in the class of beneficiaries. This would result in the income being assessed on the settlor which would lower the tax rate provided the settlor is not an “additional rate” taxpayer.

Two types of investment may be appropriate for the trust.

Collectives

If income was not to be distributed it would generally, from a tax standpoint at least, be best for the trustees to invest for capital growth, for example in collectives. This will enable them to use their annual Capital Gains Tax exemption, which is normally 5,050, with excess gains only taxed at 28%. However this investment strategy may introduce an increased level of risk into the portfolio.

Should an adult grandchild have a need for cash at or after age 18 in circumstances which would mean the trustees would have a likely CGT liability, the trustees could make an absolute appointment of benefits to the grandchild and claim CGT hold- over relief. This would mean that the gain would effectively be transferred to the beneficiary, who would have his full annual CGT exemption (10,100) to offset against
any capital gains that arise on subsequent encashment.

Investment Bonds

Alternatively, (and especially if the settlor-interested trust or gains oriented collective strategies were not possible or appropriate) in order to avoid the high rate of tax that trustees pay on trust income, the trustees could invest in single premium bonds.

In such circumstances, any chargeable event gains (which will include reinvested income within the bond) will automatically be taxed on the settlor if he/she is alive and UK resident in the tax year in question.

Their top rate of tax may well be lower than that of the trustees. Otherwise, chargeable event gains will be taxed on UK resident trustees at 50%, with a 20% tax credit available in respect of chargeable event gains arising under a UK bond.

A UK single premium bond could thus be a particularly tax attractive investment where there is a desire to invest for growth from reinvested income rather than capital gain.

In cases where the trustees wish to encash the bond to realise cash to make a payment to an adult beneficiary to fund university costs or assist with a mortgage or wedding costs, thought could be given to making an appropriate appointment of capital, and then the trustees assigning the bond to that adult beneficiary.

That would not in itself trigger a chargeable event but future chargeable event gains on encashment of the bond will be taxed on the beneficiary at his/her tax rate which will hopefully be lower than the rate paid by the settlor/ trustees.

Gifts to discretionary trusts are chargeable lifetime transfers but an immediate IHT charge would only arise if the settlor exceeded his nil rate band (on a seven year cumulative basis).

Whilst ten-year periodic charges can arise, these are only likely to be an issue if a substantial amount was being placed in trust which is fairly unlikely in these cases.

The Financial Tips Bottom Line

Children will need help in later life to meet a number of financial commitments – be it university costs, assistance in buying a house or funding the costs of a wedding. All of these costs can be expected to increase in the future.

Unless large sums of capital are available, the only realistic way of financing these costs is for a parent or grandparent to set up an advance programme of saving.

The demise of the Child Trust Fund means that Government help will not be available in the future.

All parents and grandparents / guardians need to be aware of tax-efficient investment products and, where appropriate, trusts to maximise the returns available for the child. Where trusts are used, these can enhance tax efficiency and the trust selected can be tailored to meet the parent / grandparent’s and child’s circumstances.

Ray Prince is a fee based Certified Financial Planner with Rutherford Wilkinson ltd, and helps UK Resident Doctors and Dentists plan to achieve their financial objectives. Just visit http://www.medicaldentalfs.com where you can request your free retirement planning guide.

Rutherford Wilkinson ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

As part of my litigation practice, I represent investors harmed by the misconduct of their stockbroker, investment advisor, or financial planner. Some of these cases can be brought in court; most are required to be arbitrated before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In either venue, however, many of these cases have common themes, which teach important lessons about investing.

Wall Street Doesn’t Have a Crystal Ball

The financial industry spends millions of dollars convincing the investing public that it can predict with some accuracy the future price movements stocks. We all know that predicting the future is impossible, but when Wall Street breaks out its technical charts, graphs, and its highly paid analysts discussing “P/E ratios,” “EBIDTA,” “relative strength,” “quantitative analysis,” “momentum plays,” “valuation,” “trading strategies,” “market timing” and the like, it sounds as if they have discovered a window on the future. But the reality is that price movements of stocks are unpredictable and random because stock prices react to news, which by definition is unpredictable and random. The resignation or indictment of a CEO, a product recall, an “earnings disappointment,” the failure of a new product to generate significant sales, or an international crisis all will affect stock prices. These types of events are rarely anticipated and occur randomly. Therefore, contrary to what Wall Street’s very effective marketing would have you believe, those who “beat the market” in the short term do so because of luck, not skill. Academic Research has shown that there is a very low probability — less than 3% — that any one broker, money manager, or investment newsletter can pick investments that consistently outperform benchmark market averages (such as the S&P 500) over long periods of time (10 years or more). Those odds are about the same as the odds of throwing “snake eyes” at a craps table in Vegas. What is the probability that with the money you have to invest today, you can identify the lucky broker, financial advisor, or mutual fund who will consistently roll snake eyes and beat the market for the next 10 or 20 years? Very slight.

Lesson learned: Avoid actively managed investments; stock picking and market timing are losers games.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All.

When you shop for clothes or shoes, there are a variety of sizes and styles because each of us is physically different, and each of us has our own fashion style (or lack of style). Investing choices should also be “tailored” to fit you as an individual. Just as a tailor or shoe salesman measures you before determining what clothes or shoes will fit, a conscientious advisor will similarly “measure” you to determine what types of investments are suitable for you, and how those investments should be allocated in your portfolio to meet your needs, goals and risk tolerance. The advisor should make inquiries to determine your investing time horizon, short and long term liquidity needs, income and savings rate, net worth, tax bracket, and investment experience and knowledge.

Most importantly, the advisor needs to understand what level of risk gives you discomfort. Can you tolerate a decline of 20% in your portfolio without panicking, or do you need to construct a portfolio which, based on historical data, is likely to fluctuate up or down only 5% per year? As a general rule of thumb, more aggressive, risk tolerant investors should be more heavily weighted in small capitalization “value” equities, while conservative, risk adverse investors should be more concentrated in bonds and large capitalization “Blue Chip” securities.

An advisor who takes the time to understand your needs and risk tolerance will recommend diversifying and allocating assets amongst various types of investments consistent with your goals and risk profile. Studies show that over 90% of your investment returns depend on how your assets are allocated among different investment classes, while only about 2% is due to the specific stocks, bonds and other investments you choose to buy.

Lesson learned: An advisor should spend the time to learn your particular circumstances, and tailor investments to fit your own risk tolerance profile. Run, don’t walk, from any advisor who tries to sell you something without first learning about you and your risk tolerance, who has the same solution for everyone, or who recommends putting all your assets into a single type of investment.

Wage War on Fees, Expenses and Commissions.

Over long periods of time (10-20 years), well diversified portfolios have returned approximately 9% per year. Fees, expenses and commissions, imposed year after year, substantially reduce the long-term net investment return. The average expense ratio for actively managed mutual funds is approximately 1.5%. Similar or higher charges are assessed in “managed accounts” or “wrap accounts” where the investor is charged a fixed percentage of the portfolio rather than commissions on each trade. Because of the miracle of compounding, even a small difference in expenses charged against your investments can make a significant difference in the final long term investment results. For example, the final value of an initial $100,000 equity portfolio earning on average 9% a year for 10 years with 1.25% in annual fees and expenses will be $208,754.58. That same portfolio, with identical returns, but with 2% in annual expenses, will be worth $193,439.835, or $15,323.73 less. Additional fees, commissions, and expenses, by themselves, can make it difficult to “beat the market.” As we have seen, there is a high probability that an advisor cannot select investments that beat the market, and the probability of market underperformance is necessarily increased when the account is subject to excessive fees, commissions, and expenses.

Lesson learned: Keep the fees and expenses charged to your portfolio as low as possible. Avoid advisors who are paid on commission.

Don’t Chase Last Year’s or Last Month’s Winners

Mutual funds, Wall Street firms, and financial newsletters love to tout their recent successes. Investors flock to the fund, firm, newsletter, or investment category with the highest recent returns. But what happened in the past is a poor predictor of what will occur in the future. One study suggests that only 14% of the top performing investment managers for a particular year will be among the top performing managers the following year. The same historical reality that applies to stock picking applies to recent “market beating” firms and mutual funds — the fund or firm that did well last year is not likely to repeat that success the next year, and highly unlikely to consistently outpace its peers for long periods.

Lesson learned: Don’t chase recent winners.

Be Leery of Investment “Products” Wall Street loves to sell “investment products.” These come in a variety of forms, including limited partnerships, investment trusts, variable annuities, variable life insurance, mortgage backed securities, and others. Some of these products cobble together investment and insurance concepts in a single package, to be sold as something that will supposedly cure one or another investment risk, or provide a benefit, such as life insurance or a guaranteed return. Often, these products pay the highest commissions to brokers and insurance agents. When I see the phrase “investment product,” my expectation is that I will see an investment loaded with fees and expenses, and which is often too complicated for the average investor to understand. These products are suitable for some people, but are often too costly or complicated to be appropriate for most investors.

Lesson learned: Be leery of “investment products.” Look carefully at the fees and expenses for such products, and if the investment is very complicated, ask yourself whether you should risk your hard-earned money in something you don’t understand.

Make Sure Your Money Lasts as Long as You Do.

In retirement, many baby boomers suddenly will have access to significant lump sums of money, accumulated through savings, pensions, IRA’s, and 401k’s. There is a temptation to spend those assets freely, without considering that those funds may have to last 20, 30 years or more. It is critical for the investor to structure their retirement investments, and any withdrawals from retirement funds, so as not to outlive their money. As a rule of thumb, a withdrawal rate of 4% or less, adjusted for inflation, will increase the chance that there will not be a shortfall. Of course, each investor must consider their life expectancy, the composition of their portfolio, any other sources of funds (such as Social Security or company pensions), and their spending habits.

Lesson learned: The higher the withdrawal rate from your retirement assets, the greater the risk you will outlive your money.

Avoid All the Noise and Invest in Index Funds.

An index fund seeks to match the returns of a specified benchmark by buying representative amounts of each stock in the index, such as the S&P 500 or the Wilshire 5000. Other index funds focus a particular industry, or a particular geographic area, such as the telecommunications or health care sectors, or the leading publicly traded companies of South America or Japan. There are also index funds that track corporate government bond indexes. These funds don’t try to “beat the market,” they “meet the market,” by investing in the securities comprising the benchmark index. As seen, only a small percentage of active money managers beat the market over the long term. That being so, having an investment that “meets the market” year after year is, based on historical data, statistically more likely to provide superior long term returns than active money management trying to “beat the market.” Much of the superior performance of index funds is due to their low expenses, which average.25%, or about 1/5 of the expenses charged by actively managed mutual funds. Additionally, most index funds necessarily provide diversification (e.g., owning the 500 companies in the S&P 500, or the 5000 companies in the Wilshire 5000), and are tax efficient, since there is no active manager trading for short capital gains.

Lesson Learned: Allocate your investments among a variety of national and international equity and bond index funds. A 60/40 portfolio (60% diversified equities, 40% diversified bonds and cash) is generally considered to be a well diversified balanced portfolio of moderate risk. Those seeking more risk should consider increasing their exposure to equities, while those desiring less risk should increase their bond and cash balances. The particular percentages suitable for you must be based on upon your particular risk tolerance, goals, and financial needs.

Robert C. Port is a partner with the Atlanta law firm of Cohen, Goldstein, Port & Gottlieb, LLP, where he practices business and securities litigation. He has a particular emphasis on representing investors harmed by the misconduct of their stockbroker, investment advisor, or insurance agent. Mr. Port has an AV Rating by Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, and has been selected as a “Georgia Super Lawyer” in the practice areas of Business Litigation and Securities Litigation by Atlanta Magazine.

As we’ve seen during the past two years, investors can turn their backs on sluggish asset classes such as equities or real estate. While traditional investment strategies have produced lackluster returns recently, there has been a growing interest in alternative asset classes. Investors have placed renewed focus on portfolio diversification and are enticed by the more predictable returns offered through life settlement investments. However, this new found attention raises other questions about the suitability of life settlement investments for various investors. In an industry dominated by institutional investors, are these investments appropriate for retail investors?

More than ever before life settlements are accessible to all types of investors. With online services like the new Life Settlement Investments Finder, it is now easier than ever for retail investors, family offices and institutional investors alike to make investments in the asset class. Online services such as these, match investors’ profiles against a query of known viatical investment choices. By default these services make life settlement investments available for everyone from the institutional investor and to the mass affluent.

Although there are now a number of ways to participate as a retail investor, most high net worth individuals are not offered alternative investments by their advisers. In fact, many broker dealers prohibit their representatives from even selling or discussing life settlement investments. For those that do decide to pursue the opportunity, a myriad of choices abound. One could invest in this asset class by buying; individual policies, fractionalized shares of policies, positions in dedicated life settlement investment funds or even shares of hedge funds with activity in the space. Each strategy has its own level of risk & reward and necessitates a different degree of sophistication as an investor.

Most investors are accustomed to the high level of disclosure provided by investment products such as mutual funds. Retail investors must understand, and be comfortable knowing, that the same level of transparency is not available with all types of life settlement investments. They must accept that, even in this age of 24 hour a day information saturation, there is a certain level of insulation between a retail investor of an investment fund and an insured.

In addition, retail investors must understand that direct or fractionalized ownership of policies are an illiquid position. A policy can’t be bought or sold instantaneously like a stock. That means investors exiting an investment prior to maturity will incur high transactional costs and cycle times. Life settlements should be approached with a buy and hold strategy requiring a timeline measured in years, not weeks or months.

With more prominence as an investment strategy, life settlement investments are also getting more scrutiny. Critics argue their complexity, risk and opaque nature should be avoided by all but the most capable institutional investors. Well capitalized investors have the benefit of being able to build homogenous portfolios that are statistically predictable and reduce the overall extension risk of individual insureds. Building and maintaining a portfolio of insurance policies is an involved process and takes a serious commitment. The capital required to execute the compliance, due diligence and acquisitions is usually only available to institutions. However, just because smaller investors can’t undertake the same initiatives doesn’t mean they are precluded from the asset class altogether.

As long as retail investors are aware of the risks and unique nature of the space, there is no reason that they shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of life settlement investments. When done correctly, the investment strategy offers an uncorrelated asset class that generates predictable long term returns. The key as with any investment, is to ensure the proper product is chosen and strategy employed.

Please visit Christian Evulich’s technorati column for more information about life settlement investments.

Investing encompasses many niche markets. Some of the more popular investment choices include:  real estate, cash flow notes, stocks of real estate investment trusts (REIT), and financial investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and certificates of deposit (CDs).

Earning profits from investing requires an understanding of the pros and cons of each product. An easy way to learn about various products is to work with a good investment company that possesses a strong management style and honest investment philosophy.

Some of the highest ranking investment companies include: Merrill Lynch, BNY Mellon, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity Investments. Each offers online investing tools which allow individuals to establish and manage accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Most companies offer complimentary consultations via chat rooms or instant messaging which allow investors to ask questions about products, market trends, and obtain advice on building their financial portfolio.

One of the most popular investment products is stocks. Many people associate purchasing stock in well-established corporations such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Toyota and Microsoft. However, it is smart to research start-up companies and small corporations that specialize in highly sought after products such as enviro-friendly products and alternative fuels.  

Bonds offer investors a variety of profit-earning options. Bonds are secured by asset-backed securities such as credit card receivables, student loans, mortgage notes, home equity loans, and international assets. Bonds are sold through bond brokers or can be purchased directly from the U.S. Treasury website at TreasuryDirect.com.

Mutual funds give investors the option to diversify financial portfolios without investing in multiple products. Mutual funds encompass asset-backed securities, real estate, stocks, and bonds.

Commodities are a good option for investors who want fast profits. However, before investing in this market, investors must become educated about the various products; how they are traded; and which commodities generate the highest profit margins. Popular commodities include: gold, oil, lumber, wheat, and sugar.

Business investing can be a good choice for those who are familiar with corporate practices. Business investments can include providing start-up funds, expansion funds, or purchasing shares of start-up companies or established corporations.

Investing in real estate encompasses a variety of options. Investors can purchase residential or commercial properties or real estate notes. Many real estate investors purchase foreclosure and bank owned homes for use as residential or vacation rentals. Others use distressed properties to offer lease options or seller carry back mortgages. Some prefer commercial properties such as office buildings, apartment complexes, or shopping malls. Others prefer to buy REIT stocks and avoid the headaches associated with maintaining residential, retail, or commercial property.

Currently, real estate investments are unpredictable at best. Those who choose to dabble in this niche should possess a strong understanding of the different types of properties and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Regardless of the investment product chosen, investors must engage in due diligence to calculate potential risks. The Internet provides multiple resources to help newbie and seasoned investors make informed choices. It is best to work with established investment companies and consult with three or more advisors to determine which company is best suited to help reach financial goals.

Simon Volkov is a California real estate investor who offers an all-inclusive investing article library to help investors become familiar with the various types of investment products. Topics include: real estate investing, financial products, angel investors, and much more. Visit www.SimonVolkov.com to discover available opportunities.

Many wealth managers approach investors positioning themselves as “trusted advisors”. Can you develop this type of relationship with someone who is compensated for selling product, or should you seek out a wealth manager who operates without conflicts of interest between the firm and the client? As more independent advisors arise, this question will present itself more frequently to investors.

One of the biggest complaints investors have is that they feel they are being “steered” towards specific investments by their advisor. Frequently, these products are manufactured and/or managed by the firm that employs the relationship manager. They can take the form of mutual funds, managed accounts, or partnerships. This is true for brokerage firms, investment banks, and trust banks. In many instances, the compensation of the “trusted advisor” is largely impacted by how much proprietary product he or she can sell. With that type of motivation in place, it is fair for investors to ask if their best interests are being placed first.

Some large financial services firms responded to investor’s lack of trust by creating a “platform” that includes a limited number of outside advisors side by side with their own offerings. This is frequently presented in the form of a “wrap” program that entails a large, all-encompassing fee. The wrap fee includes compensation to the investment manager, the advisor, and the advisor’s employer. These layers of fees add up. While convenient, it may prove to be an expensive proposition to the investor. As a result, many investors are gravitating to fee-only independent wealth managers who offer open architecture in a conflict-free manner.

The role of a fee-only advisor is quite different from that of the more traditional relationship between the client and his broker or trust officer. A fee-only wealth manager does not and will not manufacture or sell investment products; their only source of income comes directly from their clients. They will refuse compensation from investment managers, insurance companies, banks, and other sources of investment merchandise. His or her role is to work with you to structure a multi-manager portfolio that fits your specific investment needs. The advisor will likely spend time with you to understand your goals, objectives, and risk tolerance long before the investing process begins. Many fee-only advisors have Certified Financial Planners on staff. These professionals will work with you to ensure that you have the right structure around your assets (i.e. wills, trusts, etc.) to help you meet you your long-term financial goals in the most tax efficient way possible.

It is becoming more difficult for investors to pinpoint outstanding investment talent. There are so many choices that one can become overwhelmed. Fee-only wealth managers offer true open architecture. They are not limited by an investment platform. This enables them to seek out the best and brightest managers in all asset classes. You should expect that your wealth manager has conducted a thorough amount of due diligence on each of the managers in the suggested portfolio. The advisor should suggest separate accounts over mutual funds. Separate accounts are less expensive and more tax efficient than commingled funds. Since your advisor is not compensated for transactions in your account, he or she will probably recommend that your assets be held at a large discount brokerage firm. This will help minimize overall costs to you. While you will be receiving monthly statements from your brokerage firm, the wealth manager should provide consolidated performance reporting on a monthly basis.

To review, here is what individual investors should expect from an independent, fee-only wealth manager:

* A thorough independent appraisal of your current investment portfolio,
* A discussion about what you want to accomplish with your investment capital,
* An examination of the structures around your assets such as wills, trusts, and retirement plans,
* A well-designed asset allocation model that fits your investment goals,
* A suggested multi-manager portfolio that foots with your goals and objectives,
* Thorough and ongoing due diligence on each of the managers in your portfolio,
* Face-to-face meetings at least twice a year to update you on performance and review your objectives,
* A strong effort to reduce investment costs (i.e. manager fees, brokerage commissions, etc.),
* Monthly performance statements,
* No pressure to buy or sell any investment product,
* A fee based upon the amount of assets under advisement.

Fee-only wealth managers offer an attractive alternative to traditional sales-based financial relationships. You have the comfort of knowing that the advisor is working in your best interests and that all recommendations come from a desire to do an excellent job for you.

Copyright 2010 Massey Quick and Co., LLC – All Rights Reserved

Stewart R. Massey is a Founding Partner and the Chief Investment Officer of Massey, Quick and Co., LLC, an investment consulting and wealth advisory firm. Founded in 2004, Massey Quick provides comprehensive wealth management services to high net worth families and individuals and traditional investment consulting services to endowments and foundations. More information is available at http://www.MasseyQuick.com.

Online investing has become a popular tool for both seasoned and newbie investors. Most of the major investment companies now offer investors the opportunity to buy, sell, and trade all types of investment products from the comfort of home.

Investors can participate in online investing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from nearly any location in the world. Newbie investors have the opportunity to learn all facets of investing by viewing webinars presented on company websites or interacting with other investors through community forums.

Members can open accounts, deposit funds into existing accounts, engage in trading activities, and even purchase real estate. However, before becoming active in this financial arena, participants must take time to conduct research and understand the pros and cons of this investing practice.

Individuals should familiarize their self with the different types of investment products to determine which ones will help them reach their financial goals. Investors should research the anticipated return on investment, earned interest, and tax ramifications. It is also important to become familiar with each investment company and thoroughly review terms of service and assessed fees.

Individuals who have never purchased investment products often find online investing somewhat intimidating. Those who are just starting out should consider working with investment firms who have brick-and-mortar businesses where they can meet agents face-to-face and obtain personal consultations.

Perhaps the biggest concern people have regarding online investing is security. While this is a legitimate concern, it is important to realize that any information transferred online can be hacked. From banks to hospitals and company websites to government agencies, nothing is 100-percent hack-proof. However, reputable investment companies go to great lengths to protect their clients’ personal information. The chance of having investment information stolen is miniscule compared to other types of online transactions.

One of the most trustworthy sources for learning about investment products and security protection is InvestingOnline.org. Visitors can utilize the investing simulator to learn about the different types of investment tools. This website allows visitors to purchase, sell and trade virtual stocks to become familiar with how the process works. Investing Online offers an entire section regarding how to spot investment scams, along with a multitude of security tips and recommendations.

After conducting research and determining which products are best suited for personal goals, it’s time to locate a good investment company. Some of the more popular companies include: Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, Vanguard, Edward Jones, and BNY Mellon. Corporate websites often include article libraries, audio and video webinars, and interactive tools which help clients become familiar with the company and services offered. Most investment firms offer complimentary consultations to new clients to help create a profitable financial portfolio. Consultations can take place in person, by phone, or via instant message systems.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to investing. Some people choose one product and incorporate additional products over the course of time. Some investors prefer to utilize two or more investment firms or purchase multiple products to avoid placing all their financial eggs in one basket.

The most common investment products include: treasury bonds, stocks and options, certificates of deposit (CDs), mutual funds, life insurance annuities, and tax-deferred income annuities. Investing in real estate can be a profitable choice for those familiar with the market. In addition to buying physical property, investors can also purchase real estate stock or cash flow notes such as seller carry back trust deeds.

Online investing has opened the doors for people of all ages and financial status to capitalize on a variety of investment products. Those who take time to learn the process and understand which products offer the highest return on investment can build a strong portfolio that can provide emergency funds, pay for future expenses, or create a retirement nest egg.

Learn how to harness the power of online investing from author and real estate investor, Simon Volkov. His website provides a comprehensive article library regarding the various types of investment products, along with tips and resources for earning the highest profit. Discover which investment products are best suited for your needs by visiting www.SimonVolkov.com.

Citibank is one of the leading banks in the United States of America. It offers a lot of financial investment products for the investors. Some of them are:

Savings Accounts
Certificates of Deposit
Checking Accounts

You can invest in any of these to get good returns. Citibank offers two types of investment products

Citibank Savings Plus Account
Ultimate Savings Account

Citibank Interest Rates:

The interest rates for these accounts are listed below. The interest rates vary periodically and you have to check the latest rates from the bank website or related website.

“Citibank Savings Plus Account” – Rates are as high as 0.8% APY

“Ultimate Savings Account” – 0.8% APY

Some of the features are:

You do not need a checking account.
The minimum deposit required for opening is $100.
You can apply either online or by phone.
The amount invested is insured by FDIC.
You get alerts of the transactions that you have done.
You can access this amount any where through online banking.

How to find the best rates?

You have to spend some time to find the best rates, so that you can get good returns for your money. Here is some guidance for the same.

You can collect the interest rates of the various banks and compare them with the other banks and analyze the best offer.
There are reliable websites that would give you that analysis directly. You can get the details of the best rates from those websites.

Next Step: Find the best rates from the related websites.

Click here for ——>> Citibank Savings Account. You can also find more details on other savings schemes in http://www.bestsavingsaccountrates.net/.
Balajee Kannan

Most people enter the investment arena thinking that “Risk” is a board game they played in college. Today, I would guess that the majority of investors have never owned an individual share of common stock or a Municipal Bond.

The popularity of investment products has heightened the risk for all investors and has indirectly led to many of the policy errors that threaten both capitalism and the economic fabric of America. Market prices are increasingly and inappropriately influenced by decision-making based only on the derivatives that contain them.

Few people consider the investment risk associated with public policy decisions. Product investors and derivative speculators participate in less personal markets, where it is more difficult to connect the dots between their personal financial interests and their political alignments.

So in a very real sense, investors have to deal with public policy risk every bit as much as they need to analyze the risks associated with the securities and other financial products they hold in their portfolios — complicated, but it is doable.

Apart from these important peripheral considerations, the risk of loss in any equity investment is generally greater than the risk of loss in any debt related instrument. The potential reward from each type is just the opposite, and that’s where all the excitement begins.

Do we risk more for the chance of a greater return, or do we risk less and try to preserve our investment capital? Keeping in mind that investment capital is a measure of cost, not of market value, and that the only real loss is a realized loss.

Typically, the older the investor, the more boring or income focused the portfolio should be — minimizing the overall level of risk. But it’s difficult to actively minimize or manage your risk in the “open end” mutual fund or passively managed ETF marketplaces.

Risk minimization requires the identification of what’s inside a portfolio. Risk control requires decision-making by the owner of the investment assets. Risk management requires a selection process from a universe of securities that meet a known set of qualitative standards.

Product owners assume the added “fear and greed” risk of the general population, while their fund mangers stand aside and mumble about the opportunities lost in either direction.

Without a risk sensitive menu to select from, 401(k) participants need to minimize risk by: (a) avoiding the poor diversification that may be a requirement of their plan, and (b) developing outside income portfolios with any investable income above the employer matching contribution.

The first and most important management action focused on risk minimization in any “program” is the development of an asset allocation plan. The plan separates “liquid” investment assets into two buckets (Equity and Income) based on cost, not market value. No portfolio should have less than 30% in the income bucket — no ifs, ands, or buts.

And no investment plan should be developed “tax” or “cost” first. Risk minimization comes first, and then tax minimization if possible. Finally, transaction cost minimization can be considered if you are qualified to run your program yourself.

A cost based asset allocation approach (Working Capital Model) assures growing levels of “base income” throughout the portfolio development process and, possibly, into retirement. Income growth, by the way, is the only real hedge against that other economic risk, inflation — a buying power problem that has nothing to do with the market value of the income producing assets.

Minimizing investment risk is done best through the use of disciplined sets of rules for the various operations involved in managing a portfolio. Strict rules need to be developed for security selection, three types of diversification, income production, and for profit taking.

Forget the Wall Street “I-can-fix-that” product menagerie. We’re not interested in massaging our market value to take the sting out of cyclical market value changes. Our plan is to take advantage of these changes as they unwind around us over time, and when they occur unexpectedly, causing short-term disruptions and dislocations.

In the securities markets (stocks and bonds), the real risk of loss can be minimized without products and futures speculations, without commodities and hedge funds, and without the ageda that most people experience throughout their investment lifetimes.

The old fashioned principles of investing: Quality, Diversification, and Income, plus disciplined, targeted, Profit Taking are the only hedges an investment portfolio needs to assure long-term success. Conveniently, the QDI+PT applies equally well to both classes of investment securities.

“Q” is for quality. If you study the long-term behavior of Investment Grade Value Stocks, and high quality income CEFs, you’ll discover that they hedge themselves quite effectively.

Risk is wrung out of portfolios by investing only in S & P, B+ or better rated, dividend paying, and historically profitable companies and then only when their equity prices are well below their 52-week highs.

“D” is for diversification. Absolutely never allow any position in your portfolio to exceed 5% of total portfolio working capital (i.e., the total cost basis) and never start a position anywhere near maximum exposure. You want to be able to buy more at lower prices.

Similar diversification rules apply to industry exposure and global diversification through the use of the mainly world class companies in the investment grade quality categories.

“I” is for income. Own no security that does not pay regular, dependable, dividends or interest. Regular and growing dividends are a quality indicator in equities. In the income “bucket”, seek out above average yields while avoiding those that seem either too high or two low.

Managed closed end funds do it best and provide easy “PT” and “buy more” opportunities. Buy established CEFs with long term “income” (not ROC) payment records.

“PT” is for profit taking. Absolutely always smile and take your profits willingly, net/net 7% to 10% (dependent upon available reinvestment possibilities and security class), and never, ever, look back.

Trading this same body of securities, again and again, has been shown to sustain growth of capital and income consistently in a relatively low risk environment.

Google Part III: Ten Time Tested Risk Minimization Strategies

Steve Selengut
http://www.sancoservices.com
http://www.valuestockbuylistprogram.com
Professional Portfolio Management since 1979
Author of: “The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want YOU to Read”, and “A Millionaire’s Secret Investment Strategy”

Citibank offers Certificate of Deposits for investing to get good returns. There are many flexible term CD that are available in Citibank. You can choose your best term for the CD from 3 months to 5 years which would suit your requirements. The interest rates vary accordingly depending on the number of months the investment is made as well as the amount that is invested in the Certificate of deposit.

Some of the features of Certificate of Deposits are listed below:

The amount will be insured by FDIC up to $ 2,50,000 per depositor.
You can access the account with the help of Citibank banking card.
The minimum amount required for opening the account is $ 500.
The interest will be paid monthly or on maturity if the deposit term is less than a year.

Citibank CD rates for 2010:

Some of the latest rates for CD in Citibank for the year 2010 are listed below. The interest rates vary periodically and you have to check the latest rates from the bank websites or related websites.

Term – 3 months – Amount – Below $ 10,000 – Interest rate: 0.25%
Term – 6 months – Amount – Below $ 10,000 – Interest rate: 0.35%
Term – 12 months – Amount – Below $ 10,000 – Interest rate: 0.7%

How to find the best rates?

As you are investing your money in the banks, you should ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit out of it. Here is some guidance for the same.

You should analyze the rates offered for other products. If it suits you, then you can choose the best product.
There are many reliable websites which offers a detailed report on the best investment products.

Next Step: Read more details from other websites to find the details on Citibank products.

Click here for —–>> Citibank CD rates. You can also find more details on various investment options in http://www.bestsavingsaccountrates.net/.
Balajee Kannan

There are many financial products available in the top banks in the United States of America. Some of the financial products are:

Savings Accounts
Checking Accounts
Certificates of Deposit
Internet account
Money Market Account

Checking account is a widely used product among the investors in the United States. You have to choose a high interest account, so that you can get good returns for the same. Here are some guidelines for the same.

How to open a high interest checking accounts Online?

As a first step, you have to find the banks that offer checking accounts nearby your location.
Once you have spotted those banks, you have to find the interest rates offered by those banks for the same and then list the same in a sheet along with the other terms and conditions.
Then you have to spend some time analyzing the best bank that would offer you good interest rate along with the other benefits.
Once you have spotted the same bank, then you have to go to the particular bank website and search for online application form.
Then you have to fill the online application form and submit the required data as asked by the bank.
The bank will process your application and will ask for any clarifications if required. You can also visit the bank if you have any clarifications from the bank.
You have to deposit a minimum account in the account at the time of opening.
Once the account is opened, you will receive an opening kit for your account.

Next Step: Read more guidelines to get good returns. Click here for Internet Checking Account. You can also find more details on various investment products in http://www.bestsavingsaccountrates.net/.

Balajee Kannan